Sukkah 026

1:
Most of the points raised in mishnahs 2 and 3 have already been explained in the previous shiur, regarding the lulav. So here we need only relate to those points which are specific to the myrtle or the willow.

2:
If the myrtle branch has more berries (seeds) than it has leaves it is not valid to be one of the four species. However, if a myrtle twig does seem to have 'too many' berries the situation can be remedied by removing some of the berries. However, this must be done before the festival begins and not on the day of the festival itself.

3:
The Torah [Leviticus 23: 40] speaks specifically of "willows of the brook". We have already mentioned that all four of the species, lulav, etrog, myrtle and willow, need an abundant water supply in order to flourish. That is why the willow (actually a kind of poplar) that grows in arid mountainous areas is not valid for the purposes of the four species.

4:
The willow and the myrtle do not last long when deprived of water. The myrtle fares better than the willow, which cannot retain its freshness more than two or three days at the most once it has been harvested. But even if the leaves of the willow have withered, even if some (but not most!) of the leaves have started to drop off, the plant is still valid for religious purposes.

5:
We have already mentioned that the Torah requires "willows of the brook". Mishnah 3 points out that one need not take this quite literally. If the willow tree grows in a field that is watered by man-made canals and streams it is nevertheless valid for liturgical purposes.

6:
I have included mishnah 4 with the others in this shiur because it contains an important correction. Rabbi Yishma'el makes two points in this mishnah:

• the number of each of the species that comprise the four;
• the fact that if two of the three myrtle twigs have their top lopped off they are still valid, despite what Tanna Kamma said in the previous mishnah.

Rabbi Tarfon agrees with the second point made by Rabbi Yishma'el but enlarges its scope: even of all three twigs have their tip lopped they are nevertheless valid.

Rabbi Akiva disagrees with the first point made by Rabbi Yishma'el concerning the number each species that comprise the four.

7:
Rabbi Yishma'el requires one lulav, one etrog, three twigs of myrtle and two willow twigs. Rabbi Akiva requires only one exemplar of each kind. Halakhah follows Rabbi Yishma'el. Concerning a myrtle twig whose tip has been lopped halakhah follows Rabbi Tarfon.

8:
The Gemara [Sukkah 32b] adds that the minimum length for the myrtle and the willow is the same as the minimum length of the lulav: three handbreadths. Other points that should be borne in mind:

• The leaves of the myrtle twig should be triple: that is to say that each group of leaves that grows on the twig should be three leaves. The twig is valid if only some groups of leaves are triple if those groups cover at least 3 handbreadths of the twig.
• It is preferable (but not essential) that the leaves should rest one group upon the next in such a manner as the wood of the twig is hidden by the leaves. The leaves should not be over large.
• For obvious reasons the myrtle twig should be as green and as fresh as possible.
• A grafted myrtle is not valid.